While the Colts now have to clean out their lockers and prepare for 2013, they should do so with their heads held high.

Sure, NFL[3] teams don’t deal with “small” or “moral” victories, but this team is an exception.

This roster was completely gutted last summer. Under the direction of a new general manager, coaching staff and quarterback, expectations for the Colts were obsolete. Despite so much change in such a short time frame—and the eventual loss of Chuck Pagano for a majority of the season—the Colts completed a historic turnaround and landed in the playoffs.

Although their inspirational ride ended on Sunday, this young Colts team stayed with an experienced Ravens team until late in the fourth quarter. When you compare these teams side by side, that’s definitely an accomplishment of its own.